Providing Image Units for Vital Sign Monitoring

Abstract

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided image units for vital sign monitoring by a multichannel radar scanning a field-of-view and a microwave imaging radiometer sounding the field-of-view. Presence of moving targets within the field-of-view of the radar is determined on the basis of phase and/or amplitude changes of the image units between scans. Thermal information or information determined based on the thermal information obtained by the sounding is combined with the image units of the moving targets. In this way vital signs may be monitored based on movement and thermal information of the image units.

1 . A method of providing image units for vital sign monitoring, comprising:
 scanning, by a multichannel radar or at least one processing unit connected to the radar, a field of view within a frequency range from 1 to 1000 GHz, for example between 1 to 30 GHz, 10 to 30 GHz, or 30 to 300 GHz, using a plurality of radar channels of the radar;   generating, by the radar or the processing unit connected to the radar, image units for a radar image on the basis of results of the scanning, wherein the image units comprise at least amplitude and phase information;   determining, by the radar or the processing unit connected to the radar, a presence of moving targets within the field of view of the radar on the basis of phase and/or amplitude changes of the image units between scans;   sounding the field of view by a microwave imaging radiometer for obtaining a thermal information associated with the field of view; and   combining the thermal information or information determined based on the thermal information with the image units of the moving targets, wherein movement information is used to adaptively process the thermal information.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring phases of image units of one or more moving targets and if the image units indicate large movements based on a phase change of the image units and/or a change of periodicity of the image units, the thermal information associated with the image units is compensated.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the compensation is applied during a time period. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising updating the image units with thermal information or information determined based on the thermal information obtained by at least one sounding performed after the time period has passed. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a temperature representative of a body temperature of at least one of the moving targets based on the thermal information obtained by the microwave imaging radiometer.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining image units associated with a person in the field of view; and   determining the image units associated with the person to indicate a sign of life, a temperature, heart rate and/or a breathing rate.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the breathing and/or heart rate are determined based on periodical changes of phase together with relatively small changes of amplitude of an image unit. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a medical condition of a person based on a change pattern of the image units.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining the vital signs and/or a medical condition of a person based on the thermal information or information determined based on the thermal information combined with the image units.   
     
     
         10 . An arrangement comprising:
 multichannel radar, and   microwave imaging radiometer, wherein arrangement is configured to cause:   scanning, by the multichannel radar or at least one processing unit connected to the radar, a field of view within a frequency range from 1 to 1000 GHz, for example between 1 to 30 GHz, 10 to 30 GHz, or 30 to 300 GHz or 300 to 1000 GHz, using a plurality of radar channels of the radar;   generating, by the radar or the processing unit connected to the radar, image units for a radar image on the basis of results of the scanning, wherein the image units comprise at least amplitude and phase information;   determining, by the radar or the processing unit connected to the radar, a presence of moving targets within the field of view of the radar on the basis of phase and/or amplitude changes of the image units between scans;   sounding the field of view by the microwave imaging radiometer for obtaining a thermal information associated with the field of view; and   combining the thermal information obtained by the microwave imaging radiometer with the image units of the moving targets, wherein movement information is used to adaptively process the thermal information.   
     
     
         11 . The arrangement according to  claim 10 , further comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the performance of the arrangement. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement according to  claim 10 , wherein the microwave imaging radiometer has a common pre-amplifier and antenna with the multichannel radar. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an arrangement to at least:
 scanning, by a multichannel radar or at least one processing unit connected to the radar, a field of view within a frequency range from 10 to 30 GHz, or 30 to 300 GHz or 300 to 1000 GHz, using a plurality of radar channels of the radar;   generating, by the radar or the processing unit connected to the radar, image units for a radar image on the basis of results of the scanning, wherein the image units comprise at least amplitude and phase information;   determining, by the radar or the processing unit connected to the radar, a presence of moving targets within the field of view of the radar on the basis of phase and/or amplitude changes of the image units between scans;   sounding the field of view by a microwave imaging radiometer for obtaining a thermal information associated with the field of view; and   combining the thermal information obtained by the microwave imaging radiometer with the image units of the moving targets, wherein movement information is used to adaptively process the thermal information.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled)